 The new Ashley Iles Mk.2 Butt Chisels are now available from workshopheaven.com. In order to give people a chance to get 'hands on' with one, without actually having to buy it first, I thought it might be fun to do a passaround. All you have to do is copy and paste the list of names, add yours to the bottom and send a private message with your address to the person above you on the list. I'll sharpen one of the new chisels, send it to the first person on the list, they have a go with it and then post it to the next person by recorded delivery. Once you have had a go, you can post your thoughts and opinions on the forum and the last person posts it back to me at WH. So, if you'd like to hop on, here's the start of the list: Matthew Platt
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 Matthew Platt Mike Garnham
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 Count me in too ~ can't wait to get my hands on one!
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Count me in loooks great Matthew Platt Mike Garnham Ben Plewes Hugh Holmes
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 Great idea
Matthew Platt
Mike Garnham
Ben Plewes
Hugh Holmes
Albert Wickes
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Hi All, I posted the chisel to Mike a couple of days ago and he has sent me a message to confirm that he has received it. I look forward to reading your comments Mike!
Many thanks for taking part in this guys, I hope it will be a concept that we can extend to other products as well. Cheers, Matthew www.workshopheaven.com
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| Edited: 15/05/08 00:21 |
Well, this is a beautiful tool! The first thing that struck me was how small it was. It is only 7" long in total, and the blade only 2-3/4" to the shoulders. This is a big plus for me......I like a short chisel for bench work. It is really slender too, and that helps make it a very light tool. Everything about it says "quality". The wooden handle is beautiful, the grinding of the steel is immaculate, and whether due to the manufacturer or to Matthew, the sharpening was absolutely spot-on. The bevel isn't 24 or 26 degrees......it is exactly 25 degrees. Of course. The edge isn't almost perfectly square........it is totally square: not a glimmer of light got through when I held a square to it. Using it was a delight. I spent quite a time paring the end-grain of a scrap of oak......and wondered if it were possible to have a tool that could do it any better. I haven't given it a real test, though, because this tool just seems too delicate and perfect for me to thump away at it with a mallet. In fact, that would be my only criticism: this thing is just too damn pretty to put to work! If I had a set of these, I think they would probably hang on show on the wall of the workshop for a few years, untouched, whilst the rougher, tougher, street-fighting tools did the dirty-work!! It is great to know that a traditional English company is hand-crafting these delightful items, and I wish them well with it. Thanks again Matthew for a great idea........I'll pass this on to Ben in the next day or two. Mike
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| Edited: 15/05/08 08:14 |
Hi Mike, I picked up the chisel from the office today – thanks. It's funny, I know it's supposed to be small but I thought it would be bigger! Initial impressions are good but I haven't tried it out yet.
Will report back soon.
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Ben, I'd love to hear what you thought of this chisel. Did you clean up those ash dovetails with it? Mike
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Hi all, this little butt chisel is an absolute cracker. I've given it a thorough trial and am very impressed. Initially it felt strange but that's only because I've been using standard bevel edge chisels for so long. After using it for long enough to get past my preconceived ideas of what a chisel should feel like, I've grown very fond of this deceptively robust tool. The balance is superb, it sits in my hand well and feels just right.
These chisels might be pretty Mike, but their damn tough too. I didn't hear, or feel, any whining while using it with a mallet.
I've given it a workout on the water stones and posted it on; over to you Hugh. Let us know what you think.
Cheers, Ben
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PS. Mike, I didn't use the butt chisel on those ash dovetails, but I did use a set of Ashley Iles dovetails chisels, which are equally well engineered.
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Anyone heard anything of this chisel in the last fortnight?
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Hello all, apologies for the late post but been away for a week so only just got to use the chisel over the weekend. What a great little tool, surprised to see how small it was but that does not detract from the great well balanced feel of it. The steel seemed to retain it's good sharp edge and I liked the great hardwood handle. Even though it is not a paring chisel it is great for detail work. Using it was a dream and I will seriously consider getting one or preferably a set of these for the workshop. Thanks for the chance to have a try, I will post it onto Albert today. Hugh
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 Hi Albert After you please. Matthew Platt
Mike Garnham
Ben Plewes
Hugh Holmes
Albert Wickes Paul Mills
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Hi Paul, can you message me your address please. Its a nice chisel but a bit small for me.
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